The First Four Days of Lent, 2016 Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. * Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14&17; 2 Cor. 5: 20 - 6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Daily Meditation: The ashes we use are the burnt palms from last year's celebration of Passion Sunday. We begin our Lenten journey aware of where we are going. We want to enter into the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us more fully. That is the purpose of our journey. It is why we mark our heads with his cross. It is why we fast today and abstain from meat. Our Lenten program is not an effort to save ourselves.

We have been saved by his sacrifice. Our self-denial helps us, in the darkness that surrounds us, to prepare ourselves to receive his light. For this is a journey to the Easter font, where we will renew the promises of our Baptism, remembering that in dying with him in the waters of Baptism, we are re-born with him to everlasting life. This year's journey begins today. Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Today God our Father brings us to the beginning of Lent. We pray that in this time of salvation he will fill us with the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. Let us humbly ask him: Lord, give us your Holy Spirit. May we be filled and satisfied, - by the word which you give us. Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments, - but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.

May we abstain from what we do not really need, - and help our brothers and sisters in distress. May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies, - for through his body he gave us life. Closing Prayer: it feels like we are embarking on a Lenten journey together, you and I. Today we are invited to let the Holy Spirit purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. That feels like what I am looking for - or what you are looking for in me. I want to remember how much I need you in my life and how much my life needs redemption. I want to remember it clearly and in the background of my day today and all through Lent. On this special day, Ash Wednesday, may my small sacrifices in fasting be a way to clear away the clutter in my life to see you more clearly. May my longing for meat and other food, help me to focus my life today more outside myself. Let me be aware of those who are in so much more suffering than I am and may I be aware of them as the brothers and sisters you have placed in my life. Lord, I know there is darkness within me and around me. Bless these days with your Word.

Let your Light shine in the darkness. Help me long for that Light until we celebrate it at the Vigil six weeks from now. And most of all Lord, help me to honor this day with the ashes on my forehead. They help me remember where I have come from and where I am going. May I acknowledge to you my sins and my deep need for your loving forgiveness and grace. I pray that this Lenten season will make me so much more aware of how much I need your healing in my life. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. * Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6; Luke 9:22-25 Daily Meditation: There are so many lessons for our journey in this prayer.

It starts with God's inspiration. We are reminded of the breath of life that God breathed at the beginning of creation and the driving wind of the Holy Spirit's coming at Pentecost. The grace for all we are about to do comes from God. Today we pray to be open to it. Today we also acknowledge that for us to what we need to do these six weeks, we need God's continuing help. Each day, with every prayer, every sacrifice, every act of generosity we will need help which can only come from God. And, finally, we need God's guidance to persevere to the end. There will be tough choices, not only between good and evil, but choices about what is the greater good. We may even be called to do something quite heroic and self-sacrificing. A wonderful prayer. Easy to remember, even memorize. It is possible to say it every day. Intercessions: God has revealed himself in Christ. Let us praise his goodness, and ask him from our hearts: Remember us, Lord, for we are your children. Teach us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church, - that it may be more effective for ourselves and for the world as the sacrament of salvation.

Lover of mankind, inspire us to work for human progress, - seeking to spread your kingdom in all we do. May our hearts thirst for Christ, - the fountain of living water. Forgive us our sins, - and direct our steps into the ways of justice and sincerity. Closing Prayer: Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent come from you, be inspired by you. I long to be closer to you. Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies you in some way. It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying, "Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer," but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now. Help me to rely on you for help. The prayer asks you that I reach perfection. Please, Lord, remind me that "perfection" isn't the crazy, "successful" way I try to live my life, but a perfection of my most authentic, real self. My "perfection" might be holding my many flaws in my open hands, asking you to help me accept them. Heal me, Lord, and help me to find you in the darkness of my life.

Let me reach out in this darkness and feel your hand and love there to guide me. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. look with compassion on our weakness and ensure us your protection by stretching forth the right hand of your majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. * Isaiah 58:1-9a; Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19; Matthew 9:14-15 Daily Meditation: and an introduction to "True Fasting." We are still in the first four days of Lent. Today and tomorrow we read the 58th Chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah. These powerful words have such a contemporary message. True fasting will lead us to act justly and caring for those who are most in need. On every Friday of Lent we abstain from meat as a sign of our common penance. It represents our efforts to abstain from - do without - so many other patterns that get in the way of our happiness and wholeness.

When is Lent 2017 & 2018? Dates of Lent Lent 2017 When is Lent 2017? Lent 2017 starts on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 (in 52 days) and ends on Saturday, April 15th 2017 (in 96 days). What is Lent? Lent celebrants participating in a street procession during Holy Week . Lent is the annual period of Christian observance that precedes Easter . The dates of Lent are defined by the date of Easter, which is a moveable feast, meaning that it falls on a different date each year. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and its observance (although not its liturgical period ï¿½ see below) lasts for 40 days, mirroring the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before starting his ministry. It can also be seen to mirror the 40 hours that Jesus spent in the tomb prior to his resurrection. Lent is a penitential period, involving the dual disciplines of abstinence and fasting.

During Lent many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain foods, habits or luxuries - for example meat, cakes and sweets, alcohol, smoking - for its duration (the money saved is often then donated to charity). This is done both as a form of penitence and as a spiritual tool to tame the body and 'sharpen the spirit' for prayer, reflection and contemplation in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent lasts for 40 days and the first day is always Ash Wednesday (the day after Pancake Day ). Nevertheless, there is often confusion as to when Lent ends! This is partly due to the fact that there are in fact always 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday , and partly due to confusion between the period of the Lenten fast and the liturgical 'season' or period of Lent. The Lenten Fast (which is the period that most people consider to be 'Lent') starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday ( Easter Saturday ). This is a period of 46 days. However, the six Sundays within the period are not fast days (Sundays are always feast days in the Christian calendar) and therefore not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

The liturgical period of Lent also begins on Ash Wednesday, however it ends on the evening of Holy Thursday ( Maundy Thursday ). In addition, Palm Sunday (or alternatively the day before Palm Sunday) is sometimes considered to be the last day of Lent. This is incorrect and based on a misunderstanding about the liturgical periods of Lent and Holy Week . They are not exclusive of each other, and Lent in fact continues into Holy Week (see above), meaning that the liturgical season of Lent ends on Holy Thursday. Purple is the color most associated with Lent - during this period purple church vestments (altar cloths and the priests' liturgical garments) are used. The purple is symbolic in two ways: it is the traditional color of mourning (recalling Jesus' death) and also symbolic of royalty (celebrating Christ's coming as King). In Eastern Orthodox Christianity Lent is called 'Great Lent' and is the most important fasting period of the year, in preparation for the most important celebration of the year, Pascha (Orthodox Easter Sunday). As in Western Christianity, the period of Lent differs in its dates from year to year, with the dates defined by the date of Pascha, which is a movable feast.

Great Lent begins on Clean Monday (the beginning of the 7th week before Pascha) and runs for 40 days (including Sundays) until Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday). Fasting continues until the morning of Pascha. Further reading: Lent & Easter 2017 – 1st Week of Lent, Lenten Prayers / Lent Prayer Week 1 of Lent Sunday, February 14th, First Sunday of Lent "I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13) Reflection "The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom, and dost thou seek rest and joy? If thou carry the cross unwillingly, thou makest it a burden to thee. If thou fling away one cross, without doubt thou shalt find another, perhaps a heavier" .... (Thomas de Kempis -- Imitation of Christ). Lenten Question Q: Why are Sundays excluded from the reckoning of the forty days? A: Because Sunday is the day on which Christ arose, making it an inappropriate day to fast and mourn our sins. On Sunday we must celebrate Christ's resurrection for our salvation.

It is Friday on which we commemorate his death for our sins. The Sundays of the year are days of celebration and the Fridays of the year are days of penance. Lenten Action Phone a long lost friend and relive old memories. Visit a sick person. Feed the birds. Prayer O Jesus, I withdraw in spirit with You into the desert; teach me how to fight the triple concupiscence of the flesh, pride, and avarice. February 15th - February 20th Monday, February 15th "I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me." (Matthew 25:40) Reflection It is not enough for us to say: "I love God," but I also have to love my neighbor. St. John says that you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? And so it is very important for us to realize that love, to be true, has to hurt.

I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is not true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me. It hurt Jesus to love us. We have been created in His image for greater things, to love and to be loved. We must "put on Christ" as Scripture tells us. And so, we have been created to love as He loves us. Jesus makes Himself the hungry one, the naked one, the homeless one, the unwanted one, and He says, "You did it to Me." On the last day He will say to those on His right, "whatever you did to the least of these, you did to Me, and He will also say to those on His left, whatever you neglected to do for the least of these, you neglected to do it for Me." When He was dying on the Cross, Jesus said, "I thirst." Jesus is thirsting for our love, and this is the thirst of everyone, poor and rich alike.

We all thirst for the love of others, that they go out of their way to avoid harming us and to do good to us. This is the meaning of true love, to give until it hurts ...Mother Teresa Lenten Question Q: Is there a biblical basis for abstaining from meat as a sign of repentance? A: Yes. The book of Daniel states: "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia... 'I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.'" (Daniel 10:1-3) Lenten Action Give a donation to charity. Prayer Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness in my spirit so that I may grow in holiness through your constant care. Amen Tuesday, February 16th "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father....'" (Matthew 6:8-9) Reflection I asked God to take away my pride, And God said "No." He said it was not for Him to take away, But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, "No." He said her spirit is eternal, While her body is only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience, And God said, "No." He said patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn't granted - it is earned. I asked God to give me happiness, And God said "No." He said He gives blessings, Happiness is up to me. I asked God to spare me pain, And God said "No." He said, "Suffering draws you apart from Worldly cares and brings you close to Me." I asked God to make my spirit grow, And God said "No." He said I must grow on my own, But he will prune me to make it fruitful. I asked God if He loved me, And God said "Yes." He gave me His only Son, who died for me, And I will be in heaven someday Because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others As much as He loves me, And God said, "Ah, finally you have the idea." ....by Claudia Minden Welsz Lenten Fact The word "lent" means "lengthen" and stands for that time in spring when the days grow longer. Lenten Action Schedule a fifteen minute period of silence today to listen to your heart and to the Lord speaking to you. Prayer bring us back to you and fill our minds with your wisdom. May we be enriched by our observance of Lent. Amen Wednesday, February 17th "For at the preaching of Jonah they reformed, but you have a greater than Jonah here." (Luke 11:32) Reflection "Go through the world unnoticed if you can. Secret privations, secret sacrifices of your own will, which will never be known until all things are revealed, are surer instruments of perfection than chains and shirts of hair." ...Fr. Lasance Lenten Fact The original period of Lent was 40 hours. It was spent fasting to commemorate the suffering of Christ and the 40 hours He spent in the tomb. In the early 3rd century, Lent was lengthened to 6 days.

About 800 AD it was changed to 40 days. Lenten Action Plant a seed or bulb and watch it develop through the spring. Pray for your own spiritual growth. Prayer O Jesus, humbled to abjection for me, teach me to humble myself for love of You. Thursday, February 18th "Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) Reflection The object of our prayer-life is to empty ourselves and be filled with the Trinity. The first thing Jesus did when He became Man was to empty Himself. "His state was Divine, yet He did not cling to His equality with God, but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave and become as men are; and as all men are, He was humbler yet." (Phil. 2:6,7) Our mission in life, then, is to cooperate with God's Grace and empty ourselves and be filled with the Trinity. We are not to seek detachment to be free of responsibility, but to enable us to love both God and man with a pure love.

We are not to withdraw from the world to be alone, but to be with God. We are to do penance, not because it erases our guilt, but because it wipes away the traces of sin. We are to empty ourselves, not for the sake of self-control, but to be filled with God- transformed into Jesus. There is no definite method by which we can become selfless. Each one of us has a particular virtue and faults that make the process of becoming like Jesus different. We must look at Jesus, read His Word in Scripture and ask His Spirit to enlighten our minds and give us that particular way by which we can best attain the goal He has set for us .... Mother Angelica Lenten Question Q: Why is giving up something for Lent such a salutary custom? A: By denying ourselves something we enjoy, we discipline our wills so that we are not slaves to our pleasures.

Just as indulging the pleasure of eating leads to physical flabbiness and, if this is great enough, an inability to perform in physically demanding situations, indulging in pleasure in general leads to spiritual flabbiness and, if this is great enough, an inability to perform in spiritually demanding situations, when the demands of morality require us to sacrifice something pleasurable (such as sex before marriage or not within the confines of marriage) or endure hardship (such as being scorned or persecuted for the faith). By disciplining the will to refuse pleasures when they are not sinful, a habit is developed which allows the will to refuse pleasures when they are sinful. There are few better ways to keep one's priorities straight than by periodically denying ourselves things of lesser priority to show us that they are not necessary and focus our attention on what is necessary. Lenten Action Pray a rosary for the conversion of all who are far from the Lord. Prayer Lord, look upon us and hear our prayer. By the good works You inspire, help us to discipline our bodies and to be renewed in spirit. Amen. Friday, February 19th The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

"Unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 5:20) Reflection Feast on a silent heart. Lenten Question Q: Why are the forty days called Lent? A: They are called Lent because that is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which they fall. This is something unique to English. In almost all other languages its name is a derivative of the Latin term , or "the forty days." Lenten Action Be generous with your compliments today, especially to those who appear to be "down". Prayer I enter on this path of repentance so that in dying to self I might rise to new life. Saturday, February 20th "If you love those who love you, what merit is there in that?" (Matthew 5:46) Reflection St. Dominic Savio was born in Italy in 1842. One day when he was just four, he disappeared and his good mother went looking for him. She found the little fellow in a corner praying with his hands joined and his head bowed. He already knew all his prayers by heart! At five, he was an altar boy.

When he was seven, he received his First Holy Communion. On that solemn day, he chose a motto: "Death, but not sin!" and he kept it always. "A teenager such as Dominic, who bravely struggled to keep his innocence from Baptism to the end of his life, is really a saint," said Pope St. Pius X. At the age of twelve, Dominic entered the school run by St. John Bosco. Don Bosco examined him first and at the end of the questions, Dominic asked, "What do you think of me?" "I think you're good material," answered the priest, with a big smile. "Well, then," said Dominic, "You are a good tailor, so if the material is good, take me and make a new suit out of me for Our Lord!" Everyone in the school saw from the way he prayed that this boy was different. He greatly loved all the boys, and even though he was younger, he used to worry about them. He was afraid that they would lose the grace of God by sinning. One day, a fellow brought a magazine full of bad pictures to school. In a minute, a group of boys had gathered around him to see it.

"What's up?" wondered Dominic, and he, too, went to look. Just one peek was enough for him. He grabbed the magazine and tore it to pieces! "Poor us!" he cried in the meantime, "Did God give us eyes to look at such things as this? Aren't you ashamed?" "Oh, we were just looking at these pictures for the fun of it," said one boy. "Sure, for fun," answered Dominic, "and in the meantime you're preparing yourselves to go to hell!" "Oh, what's so wrong about looking at these pictures anyway?" another fellow demanded. Dominic had a ready answer. "If you don't see anything wrong," he said sadly, "this is even worse." It means you're used to looking at shameful things!" No one said anything after that. They all realized that Dominic was right. Another time he stopped a terrific stone-throwing fight between two angry boys. Holding up a little crucifix between them, he said, "Before you fight, look at this and say, 'Jesus Christ was innocent and He died forgiving His murderers.

I am a sinner, and I am going to hurt Him by not forgiving my enemies.' Then you can start - and throw your first stone at me!" The two boys were so ashamed of themselves that they apologized, and promised to go to confession too. One day Dominic began to feel sick and was sent home to get better. While at home he grew worse, instead, and received the last Sacraments. He was only fifteen then, but he did not fear death. In fact, he was overjoyed at the thought of going to Heaven. Just before he died, he tried to sit up. "Goodbye," he murmured to his good father. Suddenly his face lit up with a smile of great joy and happiness. "I am seeing such wonderful things!" he exclaimed. Then he spoke no more, for he had gone to Heaven. Dominic is the patron saint of choir boys and of the falsely accused. This latter title was given to him due to the following incident. One time, two boys filled the school stove with snow and garbage during the cold winter months. When the teacher came back into the room, they falsely accused Dominic of doing the "dirty" deed.

Although disciplined in front of the entire class, Dominic refused to tell on the two mischievous boys. When the truth was later revealed, Dominic was asked why he didn't confess to his innocence. He remarked that he was imitating Our Lord, Who remained silent during His persecutions and crucifixion. Lenten Fact Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is celebrated in many parts of the world with feasting. The French call it "Mardi Gras". The Germans call it "Fausching". The feasting comes from the custom of using up household fats prior to the 40 days of Lenten fasting, when no fat is used. Lenten Action In a prayerful spirit, get up early and watch the sun rise. Prayer Lord Jesus, you spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death you endured. I love you and joyfully bear the name 'Christian.' Teach me to follow your example. Increase my faith, hope and charity so that I may struggle to turn hatred to love and conflict to peace. What is Lent and why does it last forty days?

| The United Methodist Church File photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications Display featuring a crown of thorns and cross with purple cloth heralds the beginning of Lent. What is Lent and why does it last forty days? Share via Email Print Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

Ash Wednesday 2015: History, Dates, Traditions Of Lent's First Day Of Fasting | The Huffington Post Ash Wednesday 2015: History, Dates, Traditions Of Lent's First Day Of Fasting 02/17/2015 10:04 am ET | Updated Feb 17, 2015 680 HuffPost Religion Editors The Huffington Post Ash Wednesday is observed on February 18, 2015. The Christian holy day marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day season of fasting that is considered preparation for Holy Week and the celebration of Easter. Although there is no Biblical reference to Ash Wednesday or Lent, scholars of Christianity date the tradition of a 40-day fasting period back to 325 A.D . Lent mirrors Jesus’ own 40-day period of fasting, described in the book of Matthew .

Observers have ash placed on their foreheads in the shape of the cross as the words from Genesis 3:19 are spoken: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Fasting requirements for Catholics are outlined by the Code of Canon Law, and include eating no meat on the Fridays during Lent, as well as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Fasting in this case refers to eating just one full meal a day .) Many Christians will make personal vows of abstinence during Lent, which could include anything from refraining from eating candy, meat, vowing not to gossip, or being less selfish. Others will make a vow to do more for others including volunteering and working for social justice. All are expected to spend more time in prayer and reflection as Lent is considered by many to be an opportunity for spiritual transformation. The Catholic nun Sister Joan Chittister writes: Lent is the opportunity to change what we ought to change but have not...Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now...

Lent is a summons to live anew...Lent is the time to let life in again, to rebuild the worlds we've allowed to go sterile, to "fast and weep and mourn" for the goods we've foregone. If our own lives are not to die from lack of nourishment, we must sacrifice the pride or the sloth or the listlessness that blocks us from beginning again. Then, as Joel (2:12-18) promises, God will have pity on us and pour into our hearts the life we know down deep that we are lacking. Related on HuffPost: Ash Wednesday - Easter / Lent - Catholic Online Ash Wednesday - March 1, 2017 The first day of Lent Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is cheifly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us.

As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance. Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass. It is important to remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of penitential prayer and fasting. Some faithful take the rest of the day off work and remain home. It is generally inappropriate to dine out, to shop, or to go about in public after receiving the ashes. Feasting is highly inappropriate. Small children, the elderly and sick are exempt from this observance. It is not required that a person wear the ashes for the rest of the day, and they may be washed off after Mass.

However, many people keep the ashes as a reminder until the evening. Recently, movements have developed that involve pastors distributing ashes to passersby in public places. This isn't considered taboo, but Catholics should know this practice is distinctly Protestant. Catholics should still receive ashes within the context of Mass. In some cases, ashes may be delivered by a priest or a family member to those who are sick or shut-in. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. Why we receive the ashes Following the example of the Nine vites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance.

On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession. The Ashes The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts.

His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance. More Lent & Easter Search Search Lent & Easter 'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead' Luke 24:46 How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? Why Sundays Aren't Counted in Lent Catholics pray during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle. Win McNamee/Getty Images News/Getty Images By Scott P. Richert Updated February 29, 2016. Lent , the period of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter , is 40 days long, but there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday , the first day of Lent in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, and Easter. So how are the 40 days of Lent calculated? A Little History The answer takes us back to the earliest days of the Church.

Christ's original disciples, who were Jewish, grew up with the idea that the Sabbath— the day of worship and of rest—was Saturday, the seventh day of the week, since the account of creation in Genesis says that God rested on the seventh day. Christ rose from the dead, however, on Sunday, the first day of the week, and the early Christians, starting with the apostles (those original disciples), saw Christ's Resurrection as a new creation, and so they transferred the day of rest and worship from Saturday to Sunday. Sunday: The Celebration of the Resurrection Since all Sundays—and not simply Easter Sunday—were days to celebrate Christ's Resurrection, Christians were forbidden to fast and do other forms of penance on those days. Therefore, when the Church expanded the period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Easter from a few days to 40 days (to mirror Christ's fasting in the desert, before He began His public ministry), Sundays could not be included in the count.

40 Days of Fasting Thus, in order for Lent to include 40 days on which fasting could occur, it had to be expanded to six full weeks (with six days of fasting in each week) plus four extra days— Ash Wednesday and the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that follow it. Six times six is thirty-six, plus four equals forty. And that's how we arrive at the 40 days of Lent! Learn More For a more in-depth explanation of the history of the Lenten fast, why it has been and remains 40 days long, why Sundays have never been part of the Lenten fast, and when the Lenten fast ends, see The 40 Days of Lent: A Short History of the Lenten Fast . Stay up to date on the latest Catholicism news and learn more about the Catholic Faith. Sign up for our free Catholicism newsletter today! More FAQs About Lent How to Celebrate Lent: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Focusing on Your Spirituality 1 Decide on your Lenten sacrifice .

Lent is a season of solemnity and sacrifice commemorating Jesus' exodus into the desert; our sacrifice is a reminder of the sacrifice of self Jesus made to save us from our sins. Because of this, it is a Lenten tradition to sacrifice something for these 40 days. Think about all the trivial things in your life that shift your focus away from God. Do you find that you dedicate more time to sending text messages and posting status updates than to prayer and time with God? Do you have a habit of eating junk food excessively? What is something your life could do without? For the record, in 2014, Lent starts on March 5th, or Ash Wednesday, and ends on April 17th, or Holy Thursday. Easter is then that following Sunday. 2 In addition to sacrificing something, include something special in your Lenten routine. Giving up chocolate or Facebook for 40 days is great, but why not do something positive, too, instead of just removing the negative? Resolve to spend more time volunteering, with your family, pray more, or somehow get in touch with your faith. Some families decide to set aside their spare change during these 40 days and do something with that money.

Either donate it to the church or to a local charity, or spend it on goods for those in need. It's a nice touch to this season, focusing on those that don't have anything to sacrifice in the first place. 3 Attend Mass as often as possible. In addition to weekly Sunday service, it's good to go to church frequently, especially during Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when we remember that we come from dust and to dust we shall return. Many traditions often have an additional worship service in mid-week, and attendance at these services is a good way to participate in Lent. If you're going to choose a few extra times to go during this season, Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday/Good Friday (or both) are your obvious choices. 4 Go to Reconciliation . Reconciliation, or Confession, is a wonderful way to turn away from sin and reunite yourself with Christ. If you don't already, try getting into the habit of going to Confession on a regular basis. The Catholic Church has made it obligatory that all the faithful receive the sacrament of Penance at least once a year and once during the season of Lent, though it's recommended that you attend Confession at least once a month if possible.

Your church probably offers weekly confessional services, if not more during this time of year. If you're not sure when to go, pick up a local bulletin or just make a quick phone call! You can schedule private confessions as well. 5 Spend time on devotions. Though not required, devotions are a great way to put yourself in the right mindset for Lent. The Church highly encourages Adoration of God or the veneration of the Blessed Virgin and the saints. Your local parish probably has regular Eucharistic Adoration, where you can go to sit and engage in deep prayer, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. To practice veneration, you could say a decade of the Rosary daily, or pray to your patron saint. Any prayer, so long as it means something to you, is a step in the direction God intended. If you have a prayer you've grown up with that speaks to you, resolve to spend more time focusing on what it truly means and how you can embody that prayer in your everyday life. 6 Take time for self-examination and reflection. Christmas and Easter are times of happiness and joy; while the preceding and succeeding seasons are cheery and bright, the same cannot be said about Lent.

It is a time of simplicity and solemnity. It is a time to reflect on your dependence on God's mercy and your understanding of faith. Take moments during this time to think about how you embody Christ's message. To top it all off, Lent, in most climes, is during winter -- when just a look out the window is a somber reminder of the tribulations Jesus went through for our happiness. Part 2 Partaking in Lenten Traditions 1 Fast and abstain. All Catholics aged fourteen and older are asked to abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays, though fish is allowed to be eaten. Additionally, Catholics aged 18-59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Lenten Fridays, meaning that only one full meal may be eaten in the day. Of course, do this however you feel is safe and effective. Some people should definitely not fast (the pregnant or the elderly, for example). If fasting isn't a reasonable option for you, fast from something other than food. Make sure it's something that's a challenge -- like your phone or email -- so you can feel the sacrifice you're making. Fasting is by and large becoming more voluntary than anything.

Way back in 1966, Pope Paul VI made fasting only mandatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday -- everything else is at your discretion. [1] 2 Take something on. While many people choose to give harmful things up for Lent, you could use the season to help you build good habits. You could promise to be more patient and kind toward your neighbor, or you could vow to help the needy. Whether you choose to sacrifice or to adopt new, strengthening habits, you should allow your Lenten promises to help you grow in faith and virtue. In addition to bettering your own life, take this time to build habits that better the lives of others. Volunteer at a hospital or shelter, or simply get more active in your church by offering to greet, read, or take care of the offerings. 3 Have a seder meal. Though some see it as largely a Jewish tradition, that is not the case! On Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, many Catholics have a seder meal, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus -- the very last day of Lent. You eat the "meal" in silence, reflecting on your Lenten experiences with unleavened bread and wine (or grape juice). How has this Lent changed you?

If you'd like to get a little historical with it, try including matzah (unleavened bread), maror (horseradish root), egg, or haroset (apple, spice, and red wine mixture) as part of your meal. [2] 4 Promote a communal almsgiving project. Many communities choose to partake in something like Operation Rice Bowl during this season, offering help to those communities that are in need. It's possible your Church already has something like this going on -- but if not, start the ball rolling yourself! This is the perfect time to focus on bettering the world, just as Jesus did. Any charity in the area can be the basis of your project. All you need to do is get your parish on board. Talk to your priest and see if he can help urge the masses to get behind a good cause. Part 3 Seeing Lent in Your Home 1 Add purple adornments to your living space. The color of Lent is purple - a quick stroll by any church will make that abundantly clear. Add a few touches of deep, royal purple into your home to remind you that these 40 days are quite meaningful.

But do keep it simple -- Lent is hardly a time for overabundance. A few purple candles, a purple table runner -- nothing too gaudy, eye-catching, or unnecessary. It's a time of reserve and preparation for growth. Save the excess for Easter! 2 Make a Lenten calendar. Such a calendar will help you to focus on the progression of the Lenten season and is a neat reminder to see the days ticking away, getting closer and closer to Jesus' resurrection. Lent is 40 days long and doesn't include Sundays. It ends the Friday before Easter (the last day being Holy Thursday); count backwards from there. Hang the calendar in a common area in your home. Every day, tick off a box. As you get closer and closer to Easter, how do you find yourself feeling? Are your sacrifices becoming more or less difficult to maintain? 3 Eat lenten foods. As with any tradition, there is always food involved. Here are a couple ideas to commemorate this season: Make hot cross buns . These are usually reserved for Good Friday -- but you've got to make them in advance! Make soft, homemade pretzels . The shape symbolizes arms crossed in prayer.

[3] Of course, you could always prepare food for needy families or those at the local shelter. 4 Have a weekly sacrifice meal. In addition to fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, have a "sacrifice meal" once each week. A simple bowl of rice and glass of milk instead of your family's traditional spread. Limiting yourself to this will remind you of what's normal for you -- highlighting that it isn't normal for others. The things we so easily forget! Again, only partake in diet restrictions if it's advisable for you. If you're not sure, it's wise to consult a doctor beforehand. Jesus doesn't want you sacrificing your health! 5 Burn palms from last year's Palm Sunday. At the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday, burn the palms you have from last year's Palm Sunday. Keep them in a bowl at your dining room table (or wherever they could serve as a reminder) to reflect on Jesus' life and death. As you eat each meal, you'll feel a natural urge of gratitude for the splendor that you have. Rosary Prayer Can I skip the fast on Sundays? wikiHow Contributor Sunday is one of the main days you shouldn't skip. It is best not to skip especially that day.

Are Sundays included in Lent? wikiHow Contributor Yes. You should start the sacrifice on Ash Wednesday and keep going until at least Holy Thursday. Do I eat at all during Lent? wikiHow Contributor You can eat during Lent. If you're Catholic you're required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips Giving something up for Lent is no longer a religious mandate. Some communities or individuals take on something new, change a usual tradition, or simplify a piece of their lives instead. The point of these disciplines is to focus oneself inward on a spiritual journey with Christ in preparation for the season of Easter. Lent is traditionally the time when those who are thinking of becoming Christians learn about the faith and prepare to be baptized. This means that many churches hold extra classes to learn about the faith. This is a good place to do some learning for the first time, or to refresh your understanding of being a Christian. For all Orthodox readers out there, your fast begins Clean Monday. A true fast is up to you, your confessor, and God.

However, as a guideline, during Lent do not eat any animal (certain fish are allowed, as well as more fish on Saturdays and Sundays), any product of said animals (eggs, milk, etc.), alcohol, or oil. Although most people fast during Holy Week, the week before Easter, the fast should be done for a full 40 days. Warnings Those who are not included in the age range of 18-59, have health problems, or are otherwise unable to fast/abstain are not required to do so. Updated: Views: 146,552 "I'm looking to show my faith in any way. I feel God is calling upon me. I'm trying here because I lost faith in humanity during times of war. It's hard to see the good but I have faith that He is there. "..." more - Michael Kinney "Very helpful for someone like me who does not know how to start my Lent season. So excited to try these ideas."..." more - P. Nonah I love this article. It helped me learn how to celebrate Lent well and draw closer to Christ. - Bernard Mensah Thank you very much for giving a detailed explanation of Lent.

It is very valuable to me. - George Stephen This is a lovely website. Thank you. - Patricia Clay

Question: Which is the first day of Lent?
Answer: ASH WEDNESDAY